National News

Karonga communities decry security lapse

Communities around Chikutu and Chisi in Senior Chief Kilupula’s area in Karonga District have expressed concern with police delays to respond to security emergencies in their areas.

Speaking on Thursday at Chikutu during a meeting the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) organised for communities and duty-bearers to discuss gender-based violence issues, group village head Chisi said they struggle to engage police officers to settle disputes in the area.

“Sometimes when we call the police,they don’t respond on time,” he said.

But in response, Kiwe Police Unit officer-in-charge Peter Kasawala attributed the delay to lack of police houses.

He said: “We fail to respond to emergencies on time because officers are operating from rented houses.

“So, it is hard to mobilise each other at night for operations.”

Kasawala said out of the 15 houses at the station, only one is occupied.

“The rest are vacant and in bad condition because occupants were evacuated last year after Kibwe river flooded,” said Kasawala.

In a separate interview, National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said they are aware of the challenges at Kibwe Police Unit.

“We are contemplating renovating the houses or building new ones,” he said.

Karonga district EAM Timazge Nkhaza project coordinator Dumisani Nungu asked government to expedite the rehabilitation of the houses and the dyke.

With a joint funding from Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid, EAM is implementing Timazge Nkhaza project in traditional authorities Mwakaboko, Kilupula and Kyungu in the district.

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